Rants and raves: Some questionable strategy

Nov. 18, 2012

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Press-Gazette

Green Bay Packers linebacker Brad Jones (59) leaps through the air while trying to sack Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during the second quarter of Sunday's game at Ford Field in Detroit. Jones was called for roughing the passer for taking a swipe at Stafford's head. Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette

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Rants and raves from Sunday's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit. The Packers won 24-20.

Rave: Besides forcing four turnovers, the Packersí defense opened and closed the game impressively. The Lions had a pair of three-and-out possessions to start the game, with quarterback Matthew Stafford completing just 1-of-5 passes for 3 yards. Then when the Lions needed to drive for a game-winning field goal in the final 2 minutes, Stafford threw four straight incompletions.

Rant: With the ball on the Lionsí 32 and roughly 25 seconds remaining in the first half, the Packers allowed the clock to wind down to 3 seconds before using their final timeout. Why not attempt to get in better field-goal position instead of settling for an iffy 50-yard attempt, which Mason Crosby missed?

Rave: Center Jeff Saturday recovered an Aaron Rodgers fumble at the Packersí 11 early in the second half to prevent an easy scoring opportunity for the Lions. It was the second such recovery for Saturday this season deep in Packers territory.

Rant: Rodgers had Randall Cobb open downfield in the red zone late in the first half and uncharacteristically underthrew him and was picked off by Jacob Lacey. It was only Rodgersí sixth interception of the season.

Rave: Rodgers danced and dodged his way out of a dangerous pocket on third-and-9 as he eluded two would-be sackers and completed a 12-yard pass to Donald Driver late in the first quarter. It was a key play on the Packersí 81-yard touchdown drive.

Rant: Brad Jones committed an ill-advised roughing-the-passer penalty in the second quarter with an unnecessary swipe to the head of Stafford. The Lions otherwise would have punted. Jones also had a 15-yard face mask penalty in the second half.

Rave: The Packers had to be happy the Lions forgot to cover Jermichael Finley on a short dump-off pass over the middle early in the second quarter, which Finley turned into a 20-yard touchdown. Finley added a big 40-yard reception on the game-winning drive and appears to be back in sync with the offense.

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Rant: Mike McCarthy elected to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the Lionsí 31 in the first quarter, which was a commendable decision. However, it didnít work because Rodgers attempted to throw a lower-percentage pass downfield to a well-covered Randall Cobb. Why not throw a shorter pass to pick up a first down rather than go for a big gain?

Rave: Although they didnít have great success running the ball, the Packers at least established a commitment to the ground game to keep the Lionsí defense honest. James Starks carried a whopping 25 times for 74 yards, including nine rushes in the first quarter for 29 yards.

Rant: It was a rough start for new starting left guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. He false-started on the first series, prompted by the crowd noise. Later in the quarter he was called for a holding penalty. Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang also were called for holding penalties in the first half.

Rave: Tim Masthay and Jarrett Bush combined on a stellar 49-yard net punt in the first quarter. Masthayís punt bounced toward the goal line, where Bush was waiting to down it at the Lionsí 2. They combined for a 56-yard net punt in the third quarter, again taking advantage of a favorable bounce.